Step One: Pick a simple color scheme. My inspiration was the bronze amaranthus, with some pops of dusty pink, peach and orange. Start with a base of branches (we used crab apple), which will create the movement and shape of the arrangement. We used a footed silver bowl for a wide and open display and let the branches splay out.

ENLARGE

Owen arranges the flowers in the vase.
Adam Golfer for The Wall Street Journal

Step Two: Fill in and around the branches with hydrangea and any other foliage (we used some burning bush). Cut your stems quite low and tuck them deep in the arrangement. Next, place the more showy flowers. Cluster like blooms and similar colors together for maximum impact, but make sure they are not all on the same level nor facing the same direction. Step Three: Finish the arrangement with some playful gestures of wild grasses.

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The finished arrangement
Adam Golfer for The Wall Street Journal

Step Three: Finish the arrangement with some playful gestures of wild grasses.

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